But maybe the target audience won't notice if they crank up the volume. The car was peppy, but the six-speed felt very notchy and the clutch was jerky.īoth engines sounded buzzy - a surprise, given that the Corolla is an exceptionally quiet small car. My Vibe test car, a ''salsa red'' GT, had the 180-horsepower engine and a six-speed manual.
#Pontiac vibe manual#
The base engine had plenty of round-town power, and the manual transmission felt sporty, though the shifter didn't always slide neatly into gear. The base and midlevel versions, like my cobalt-blue Matrix XR test car, have a five-speed manual transmission or an optional four-speed automatic only the automatic comes with all-wheel drive. It makes 130 horsepower with front drive and 123 with all-wheel drive. In both cars, the engine in the base, midlevel and all-wheel-drive versions is a 1.8-liter four-cylinder with variable valve timing.
Another peeve was the rear wiper, which doesn't cover the entire back window. Gauges are set into four chrome rings (which caused distracting reflections at night). Another option is a DVD-based navigation system.īoth cars have a cockpit feel. All through the car are storage nooks: open trays, covered bins, door pockets, cup holders and coin holders.Ī premium audio system is available with an in-dash CD changer. There are lots of power sources, including three in the center of the dashboard one of these is a 115-volt outlet that can power a laptop computer. The smooth plastic surface was great for wet gear, but it set my groceries sliding.Īn available tie-down system consists of parallel tracks that run the length of the compartment, with eight adjustable sliding anchors to secure things like bicycles. The rear seats fold to make a flat floor. The back of the front passenger seat folds forward, with the seatback forming a flat work surface. The seats come only in cloth, not leather. The interiors are pretty much alike, and you sit high in both cars. The Matrix got mixed reviews on campus several college students called it ''funky'' - a term they seemed to apply as both compliment and criticism. Similarly, youngsters at a skateboard park thought it was cool. I personally prefer the look of the Vibe, and it got more thumbs-ups in my unscientific surveys - including yes votes from a couple of 20-something body-piercing artists. But it still has some traditional Pontiac styling touches, like a twin-port grille, cat's-eye headlamps and wide, ground-hugging stance.
The Vibe has a competitive starting price of less than $17,000, and its styling is trim and athletic, with attractive proportions and a far prettier rump. Its minivan-based Aztek was priced too high - it started at $21,000 and could hit $30,000 with options - and looked too strange. Pontiac learned some painful lessons with its last effort to woo young people. Their differences lie chiefly in styling, prices and trim. Both are built by Toyota, although in different places (the Vibe in Fremont, Calif., and the Matrix in Cambridge, Ontario). The Vibe and Matrix, which went on sale last month, are mechanically identical. Competitors include other automotive mongrels - the industry calls them ''crossovers'' - like the Chrysler PT Cruiser, Ford Focus ZX5 and Mazda Protegé5. They are available with all-wheel drive like sport utility vehicles. They have four doors and carry five people like a sedan, but their rear hatches open like those of a station wagon or minivan. While the Vibe and Matrix spring from the platform of the '03 Toyota Corolla sedan, they defy traditional categories. The 2003 Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix represent bets that young people want sporty cars that are also practical and versatile, capable of hauling both friends and gear. This group of potential buyers rivals the baby boomers in size. The two companies, like most of the auto industry, are struggling to figure out what 70 million echo boomers - roughly aged 8 to 25 - will want in cars.